Saturday, July 23, 2011

Ocean Shores News: My Listings Are Now Featured On YouTube

OCEAN SHORES NEWS


April Swenson's YouTube Channel is Now Active



July 2011 ~
I have been working hard to get all of my listings featured on YouTube. I still have more work to do, but please take an opportunity to visit my channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/aprilswenson?blend=21&ob=5


I recommend watching the 4th of July Fireworks videos: http://youtu.be/WQrwlYh4VRY and http://youtu.be/zOAoNFIPFDY


If you have any comments, please send them my way. Please keep checking back for more videos.


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Ocean Shores Newsletter for Real Estate, Events, News, etc. ~ July 2011

July 2011
Ocean Shores/North Beach
Newsletter
Presented by April Swenson,
CRS, Realtor & Managing Broker for Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
aswenson25@juno.com 360-589-2777 cell/text www.OceanShoresInfo.com



NOTABLE NEWS/EVENTS



INDEPENDENCE DAY 2011


Ocean Shores lit up for Independence Day weekend with tons of fireworks....truly a sight to see. For more pictures and information, please visit www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/july4th2011.html



FIVE STAR DEALERSHIPS SAND & SAWDUST FESTIVAL 2011


The wonderful event of sandcastle building and wood carving was held on June 24th-26th. This is personally one my favorite events. See more info and pictures at www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/sand&sawdustfestival2011.html



FLAG DAY PARADE 2011


Ocean Shores honored Old Glory through its annual Parade in downtown on June 11th. See more info and pictures at www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/flagdayparade2011.html



BEACHCOMBER FAIR 2011


The annual Beachcomber Fair was held at the Convention Center on March 5-6th. See more pictures and info at www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/beachcomberfair2011.html



OTHER NOTABLE LOCAL NEWS




  • The historic Ocean Crest Restaurant is a total loss after an early morning fire on June 20th. However, the Ocean Crest Resort was not damaged at all, thanks to the speedy action of all-volunteer Grays Harbor Fire District 8, first on the scene, within minutes of the call, as well as volunteers from Districts 16 and 7 and the Ocean Shores Fire Department. The owner Sara Owen said: "We will rebuild." The Moclips restaurant, which opened in 1963, was fully insured. Good news is that there were no injuries. Cause of the fire is still unknown.




  • The City of Ocean Shores is still working on their budget and the City Council has to decide on cuts of $250,000.




  • GOOD NEWS: Ocean Shores was 1 of the 21 drinking water systems to receive a low-interest loan from the State of Washington via the 2009 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The City's deep-water aquifer has high concentrations of iron, manganese and nitrogen compounds that cause our water to smell and taste bad. With the $6M low-interest ARRA loan, the City broke ground on a shallow-aquifer water treatment plant that will deliver safe and reliable drinking water. It will sustain 35 to 40 jobs for at least a year.






UPCOMING EVENTS



July 29th-31st ~ Sun & Surf Run: over 2,000 motorcycles and riders come to town.


August 13th-14th ~ Fun Fly in Ocean Shores: watch the colorful kites on the beach.


September 9th-11th ~ Arts & Craft Festival: hand-crafted items displayed at the Convention Center.




BUYS IN OCEAN SHORES


Click on the following links to view the MLS flyers for some good deals on properties in Ocean Shores:


Homes Under $100K


Homes $100K-$150K


Homes $150K-$200K


Homes Over $200K


View Homes


Waterfront Homes


Lots $10K or Less


Lots $10K-$15K


Lots $15K-20K


Lots Over $20K


View Lots

Waterfront Lots





MARKET ACTIVITY/UPDATE
(January 1st thru June 30th)



Ocean Shores is still the #1 beach town in the number of sold properties, as well as the top tourist destination along the Washington Coast. The North Beach area has seen a definite increase over last year, mainly due to Seabrook in Pacific Beach.


OCEAN SHORES MARKET:


Click on the following links to view the MLS flyers for sold properties (1st half of 2011):
Sold Homes
Sold Lots
Sold Condos
Sold Multi-Family
Sold Commercial





































































1st-Half of 2011



Homes



Land



Condos



Multi-Family



Commercial



Total



Current Listings



296



472



73



5



16



862



Pendings



29



17



9



0



1



56



Solds



63



62



4



1



2



132



Sold Volume



$9.32M



$1.63M



$509K



$179,900



$524K



$12.16M



Sold Median Price



$139,900



$16K



$130,500



$179,900



$262K





Avg. Days on Market (solds)



229



247



241



117



39






NORTH BEACH (Ocean City to Moclips) MARKET:


Click on the following links to view the MLS flyers for sold properties (1st half of 2011):
Sold Homes
Sold Land





































































1st-half of 2011



Homes



Land



Condos



Multi-Family



Commercial



Total



Current Listings



46



122



3



1



9



181



Pendings



10



3



0



0



0



13



Solds



21



18



0



0



0



39



Sold Volume



$5.51M



$1.6M



$0



$0



$0



$7.11M



Sold Median Price



$250K



$54,875



$0



$0



$0





Avg. Days on Market (solds)



287



425



0



0



0






SOUTH
BEACH (Westport/Grayland/Ocosta) MARKET:





































































1st-half of 2011



Homes



Land



Condos



Multi-Family



Commercial



Total



Current Listings



138



156



16



1



18



329



Pendings



13



2



1



1



0



17



Solds



27



13



9



1



0



50



Sold Volume



$2.73M



$1.65M



$1.19M



$120K



$0



$5.69M



Sold Median Price



$84,800



$47,500



$125K



$120K



$0





Avg. Days on Market (solds)



310



234



246



691



0






LONG BEACH
PENINSULA (Ilwaco to Surfside Estates) MARKET:





































































1st-half of 2011



Homes



Land



Condos



Multi-Family



Commercial



Total



Current Listings



308



299



38



2



14



661



Pendings



20



9



0



0



1



30



Solds



66



18



5



1



2



92



Sold Volume



$10M



$654K



$886K



$140K



$414K



$12M



Sold Median Price



$120,350



$33,750



$160K



$140K



$207,250





Avg. Days on Market (solds)



265



423



159



30



780





NOTE: All of the above data was pulled from the NWMLS and is not guaranteed.




FINANCING NEWS


POSITIVE NEWS


Interest rates are still very low at around 4.5-4.875% with 0 points. Funding is available through FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans to buy primary and secondary homes in Ocean Shores and the North Beach.



For more help on getting pre-approved/qualified, contact our local lender, The Bank of the Pacific. You can call Carol Warfield, the Vice President Residential Loan Officer, at 360-580-0187 (cell) or e-mail her at cwarfield@thebankofpacific.com. Interest rates are still very low.


Once again, if you ever have any questions about Ocean Shores, the North Beach, the surrounding Grays Harbor cities, and/or real estate, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me.
~ April Swenson



Your Beach Destination Awaits You at the #1 Washington Coast Town!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Ocean Shores Events: July 4, 2011 ~ Fireworks at the Beach

OCEAN SHORES EVENTS


Independence Day 2011
Fireworks at the Beach



June 4, 2011 ~ Fireworks shot off all along our beaches....it was a site to see! Our beaches were packed and we enjoyed sunny skies. Everything from fountains to high-in-the-sky bombers were lit celebrating our country's birth and independence. You can see my video of some of the action at http://www.youtube.com/user/aprilswenson?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/zOAoNFIPFDY. See more pictures and info http://www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/sand&sawdustfestival2011.html

Ocean Shores Events: Five Star Dealerships Sand and Sawdust Festival ~ June 2011

OCEAN SHORES EVENTS


Five Star Dealerships
Sand & Sawdust Festival 2011



June 24-26, 2011 ~ Ocean Shores was home to sand creators and wood carvers over a weekend with great weather. The annual, and one of my personal favorites, Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust Festival was held with great results in the amount of visitors and the creations made. One of my personal favorite sand creations was "The Exodus," which showed Moses parting the Red Sea....it was very neat. See more pictures and info by clinking on the following link: http://www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/sand&sawdustfestival2011.html

Ocean Shores Events: Flag Day Parade ~ June 2011

OCEAN SHORES EVENTS

Flag Day Parade 2011


June 11, 2011 ~ Ocean Shores honored Old Glory in its annual Flag Day Parade through the streets of downtown. There were lots of great floats, ie the TwinStar CU Lady Liberty float, the Habitat for Humanity float, and others. There were also classic cars, Corvettes, fire trucks, tractors and more. Click on the following link to view more pictures and info: http://www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/flagdayparade2011.html

Ocean Shores Events: Beachcomber Fair 2011

OCEAN SHORES EVENTS

Beachcomber Fair 2011



March 5-6, 2011 ~ The Beachcomber Fair event was held at the Convention Center. It was a lot of fun. Click on the following link to view more info and pictures: http://www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/beachcomberfair2011.html